The Catholic faithful in Kamwenge District and the wider Mbarara Ecclesiastical Province are mourning the death of celebrated gospel composer John Bosco Kazoora, whose music shaped Runyankole-Rukiga liturgical worship for decades.
Kazoora passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026, just days after celebrating his sacrament of holy matrimony on April 25, 2026, a development that has left believers in shock and sorrow.
He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of original Runyankole hymns used in Catholic liturgy across western Uganda, with his works deeply embedded in parish worship.
Priests at Kamwenge Catholic Parish, led by Parish Priest Rev. Fr. James Isabakaki, described him as a devoted servant of God who used music to evangelise and strengthen the faith of believers.
“Kazoora was a person who used his gift to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, and his songs have changed many people and drawn them into the Catholic faith,” Fr. Isabakaki said.
He added that Kazoora’s hymns had become central to worship in western Uganda and would continue to inspire congregations even after his death.
Fr. Francisco Mucunguzi, the curate at Kamwenge Catholic Parish, said the composer’s passing leaves a significant gap in church music ministry.
“The death of JB Kazoora has left a big gap in Catholic music. It will not be easy to find people with the kind of talent and dedication he had,” he said.
Chief Catechist Nepomuseni Muremyangango also paid tribute, noting that Kazoora’s songs were widely loved both in church and at community functions.
He urged Christians to continue building on the late composer’s legacy by sharing their talents in service to the Church.
Among Kazoora’s most popular hymns are Reeba Irembo rya Mukama riboneire, Mwije nkundwa za Mukama, Ekitiinwa Ayi Mukama, Nkwata Omukono Taata, and Mukama ninkusiima, many of which remain widely used in Catholic worship across Uganda.
As tributes continue to pour in, Kazoora is being remembered as both a gifted composer and a humble servant of God whose music will continue to inspire generations of worshippers.
